1. 8. 2012
The Sveta Petka hydroelectric power plant was officially
opened today by Mr Nikola Gruevski, Prime Minister of the Republic of
Macedonia, and Dr Vlatko Čingoski, General Director of ELEM.
The Sveta Petka hydroelectric power plant has an installed capacity of
36 MW and is expected to fully exploit the hydro potential of the Treska
River. With an estimated Annual Energy Production of 66 GWh, the new
addition to the Macedonian power system will provide more than 40,000
Macedonian citizens with electricity. The 64m high concrete arch dam,
located in a narrow valley along the Treska River, is the first dam of
this kind to be built in the wider region in the last 25 years and the
hydroelectric power plant is currently one of the largest investments in
the energy sector in the Western Balkans.
At the opening event, Dr Čingoski Vlatko, General Director of ELEM, said: “The
construction of the Sveta Petka hydroelectric power plant, worth 75
million euros, is one of the most complex, sophisticated and specific
construction projects ever carried out in the Republic of Macedonia. The
hindering terrain, challenging soil conditions and limited
possibilities for worksites in the canyon along the river required the
use of highly sophisticated construction techniques and organizational
skills. This project is proof that there are no ad-hoc solutions in the
energy sector - and there is no project that can be completed in a day.
With the opening of the Sveta Petka hydroelectric power plant, we as a
country have become richer in terms of technical, economic and
achievable potential for energy”.
The construction of the Sveta Petka hydroelectric power plant was
headed by the company Riko, d.o.o., which succeeded in providing the of
highly-sophisticated technological equipment with minimal maintenance
costs, minimal disruption to the environment, a reliable operating
system and a high utilization rate. A number of renowned Slovenian
subcontractors (Litostroj, Corona, Iskra Impulsz, Irma, Etran and
others) and Macedonian subcontractors (Granit, Beton, GIM, Hipox, Cvet
Kompani, MEPOS and others) took part in the project.
Mr Janez Škrabec, Director of Rico, said: “Our Company is very
proud to have completed this major crown project – the construction of
the Sveta Petka hydroelectric power plant. We are convinced that, by
constructing this plant, which is one of the most demanding
constructions built in the region in the last 20 years, we have set new
standards and new measures in the field of hydroelectric power in this
region and have strengthened ties between Slovenia and Macedonia for
future cooperation”.